A 14-year-old girl from Cork has had a compensation settlement for €700,000 approved by the High Court after she was born with Erbs Palsy in 1998.

Aoife James (14) from Douglas in Cork suffers from the birth injury which was caused by the over-extension of the nerves between the neck and shoulder during delivery. Usually the injury heals but in this case the condition remained on her right hand side. Aoife’s condition has not improved despite intense physiotherapy and two operations and she is still unable to carry out basic tasks such as wash herself or dry her hair using her right arm.

Claiming on behalf of her daughter Carol James is making the claim for compensation on the basis that her injury was caused by medical negligence by consultant obstetrician Patrick Kieran of the Cork Clinic, Western Road, Cork during her birth which the family were willing to accept.